satellitedog01

Well they did repeat it the most times in a song, and it still got played on radio sometimes in those days, and even if INXS hadn't written that song, it would still have been a lousy clichéd line unworthy of a U2 single, but that's just part of the problems about it...

Sorry if you're an ES fan though, xy. Didn't mean to trample on your taste, here's the live version for comfort:You are not allowed to view links.
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The production on that album is very minimal, just a lot of textures and ideas.

This was my general issue with Pop. Though there are songs that I like from that album, I feel like most of it was actually underdeveloped. It's as if they were afraid producing the songs further would ruin them or something.

Well they did repeat it the most times in a song, and it still got played on radio sometimes in those days, and even if INXS hadn't written that song, it would still have been a lousy clichéd line unworthy of a U2 single, but that's just part of the problems about it...

Sorry if you're an ES fan though, xy. Didn't mean to trample on your taste, here's the live version for comfort:You are not allowed to view links.
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It is a cliche. *shrug* So is "yeah yeah yeah" and it seemed to work in Vertigo.

edit : E. Storm is okay, an average song. Didn't work live for me, but I appreciated the effort of them at least trying it.

One of the worst...sometimes the "let's try to reference our past but with a fresh touch to it" approach works (Magnificent, COBL) and sometimes it really doesn't (Miracle Drug, Walk on). Yahweh is in the middle somewhere.

One of the worst...sometimes the "let's try to reference our past but with a fresh touch to it" approach works (Magnificent, COBL) and sometimes it really doesn't (Miracle Drug, Walk on). Yahweh is in the middle somewhere.

Well they did repeat it the most times in a song, and it still got played on radio sometimes in those days, and even if INXS hadn't written that song, it would still have been a lousy clichéd line unworthy of a U2 single, but that's just part of the problems about it...

Sorry if you're an ES fan though, xy. Didn't mean to trample on your taste, here's the live version for comfort:You are not allowed to view links.
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It is a cliche. *shrug* So is "yeah yeah yeah" and it seemed to work in Vertigo.

It mattered that they sounded like they meant it. That usually makes a difference. As with Ultraviolet for another example.

Sorry I messed up my response. I actually quoted everything including my response:-)

Interesting take on Sweetest Thing. Some of the reasons you like it are similar to the reasons I don't (ie too sweet, didn't fit with the 80s albums and was refit to suit the times)but your points are well made. I am surprised about your view of Electrical Storm- I quite liked it and, for me, it felt like it fit with Stateless/Million Dollar Hotel era (with Ground Beneath, Levitate et al) and almost bridged to Atyclb. It's funny how we had such different takes on the Best Of singles.

Jon

It's totally cool with me, Jon. Electrical Storm was the first time I immediately knew this was something laboured and constructed out of ideas that found no homes in better songs. It happens with Bono "the patron saint of lost songs", he fights for ideas he likes, he likes to see them through.

Sweetest Thing on the other hand is the old hat trick, dressing up serious content (well as serious as Bono will get) in a supremely accessible piece of pop music.

I don't have a problem with a catchy, chirpy, one off pop song if it works, and I am glad when they try new things, I love U2's music for its diversity along the years, and Electrical Storm crosses me just in that respect. It's not original, it wants to be hit single U2, the lyrics are evidently a patchwork job, with a lot of quickly made up filler past the verses, plus "baby don't cry" totally out of context, unfavourably comparing the song to INXS's super cheesy, yet enjoyable hit single. The music is not better either, using a nondescript chord sequence and thrown in elements that could be considered signature Edge, Larry, Bono but they come off as a mish-mash of familiar, yet disjointed parts that fit like the pieces in Frankenstein's monster fit: through craft, not nature.

Actually they went on writing crafted U2 songs in the '00s, and it's my greatest problem with their current state. Some of those songs work, most just remind us of more passionate U2 songs-, or the more passionate U2 of the past, some don't achieve either.

Although u2 have written many good songs in the last decade, I do agree with your point that some of the '00s songs remind you of more passionate songs released by the band. Maybe that is a problem of being together for 3 decades? Or maybe it's me being a fan for such a long time that I can't help but to compare? Something to consider. Btw Happy New Year to "you too".Jon